New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-19
Il ROORBACH IN sENGLAND.

Baron Roorbach Is making an English tour
His first American journey in 1914 established
his reputation as political and elcctionecring
agent, and many Presidential campaign has
been brought to a close with the advcntitious
aid of his INSCRIPTIONS pen. He has seldom.
if ever interviewed in English political contests.
and his present appearance upon the scene is
an unpleasant surprise The division on the
second reading of the Coercion bill was an
event of critical importance for Tories and
Unionists, and 'Thc London Time" seized
the opportunity for publishing a letter alleged
to have been dictated by Mr.. Parnell nine days
after the Phoenix Park assassinatons, for the
purpose OF reassuriDg extremists. American
politicians Of experience would instantly rocog.
nize in this belated publication the familiar
features of the campaign roorbach. The Irish
members of Parliament have promptly de-
nounced the letter as clumsy forgery devised
for the purpose of influencing the division on
the Coercion bill. Mr.. Parnel's denial of the
authenticity of this letter was hardly required,
since it bears internal evidences of spurious
character 'The London Times |" has been
traflGiing for some time in "dreadful dis
closures" Of Irish depravity and has had
meagre success in attracting public attention.
The present attempt shows the extent to which
its credulity can be practiscd upon in grave
political crisis.
The letter imputed to Mr. Parnell is sur
reptitious apology for the conduct of the Irish
members in denouncing the Phoenix Park as
sassns. 1t contains secret limitations that
while it was necessary for them for the sake
of expcdiency and policy to condemn the crime,
they were not wholly sincere for while they
must regret 4the accident of Lord F. Caven-
dish's DEATH" they "could not refuse to admit
that Burke got no more than his deserts"
The clumsy sentences arc utterly unlike Mr..
Parnel's terse. incisive style; and the London
journals intimation that the signature was
put on another page so that it could be con-
veniently torn off casts suspicion upon tho
body of the letter. which is written In strange
hand. Tho practical refutaton of the forgery
Is to be found in the events following the
assassinatons. The Chief Secretary and the
Under Secretary were murdered on May 6,
1882. An address signed by Mr.. Parncll Mr..
Dillon and Mr. Davitt was ut once issued to
tho Irish people, expressing horror and despair
over a cOwardly and unprovoked crime In
Cork'a great Nationalist meeting was immedi-
ately held, at which the dastardy deed of the
assassins was repudiated with adherence as
"bloodshcd crying to Heaven for vengeance"
This demonstration was followed by similar
meetings in all parts of the island. and the
sinccrest feelings Of regret and horror pre-
vailed among all classes Mr.. Parncll had
every reason to believe that his own emphatic
condemnation of the crime was supported by
the Irish people. 1t is inconccivable that he
should have written such letter as this at
the moment when with one voice the island
was crying out against the atrocious slaughter
Of England's peacc messengers
Mr. Parnelrs political triumph, moreover,
had been deferred by that crime. lie had
been released from Kiimainham with the whole
army Of suspects Coercion had been aban-
aoned Mr.. Forster had been forced to resign
q new era Of reconciliation had been opened
and the Irish leader was the unTowned King.
The assassins interviewed to snatch from him
The fruits of his great victory, and to compel
The Gladstone Ministry TO have recourse once |